SINCE 2006 WE HAVE RAISED OVER $500,000 FOR A NUMBER OF VERY WORTHWHILE CHARITIES.

For more than 30 years, Open Family Australia has been providing a range of Outreach services to young people aged between 12 and 25 with highly complex needs who are disengaged from society. Through its expertise and proven methodology, Open Family outreach workers go to where young people are. They look in the hot spots such as railway stations, shopping centres, rooming houses and squats.

They engage with young people to link them to services which can help them connect back into a supportive environment and a healthy community. This could include crisis support and services such as housing, health, drug and alcohol programs, family counselling, legal services, re-engagement back into school, and assisting young people to find suitable work.

A note from Open Family Australia (Charity Partner for 2011 and 2012)

“The funds received from FICAP in March 2011 allowed Open Family Australia to continue and strengthen our Sydney Outreach programs – so thank you.

“FICAP’s fundraising efforts meant we were able to work with 232 young people on an intensive case management basis in the Sydney area. Through working closely with these young people we have been able to re-engage many with their communities through ensuring their basic needs are met, such as food and housing, and working with them to gain education or employment.

“The funds raised by FiCAP have also assisted with our Chatterbox and NOSH programs where we were able to make 2,515 casual contacts with young people. Both Chatterbox and NOSH are active in Sydney’s West and continue to provide outreach support, along with healthy living programs to the young people they connect with. Open Family Australia’s outreach workers build strong, positive working relationships with relevant stakeholders in the region to ensure they maximise opportunities to provide support and links to services for the young people with whom they are working.”

For further information, please visit http://www.openfamily.com.au/

Bear Cottage is a children’s hospice – a very special place dedicated to caring for children with terminal conditions and their families. At Bear Cottage, we believe that every life, however short, is very precious and should be enriched, enjoyed and celebrated. Bear Cottage is a place, where cherished moments and special memories are created – a place where life is for living.

Families of a child with a life-limiting condition are often providing constant care around the clock for many years. We understand that this can be incredibly isolating and impacts greatly on the emotional, financial and physical well-being of the whole family. Time spent with us in our state-of-the-art facilities can help to alleviate some of these challenges. They do not pay for any of the services receive from Bear Cottage, instead we rely entirely on the community to keep our doors open to ensure we can continue to care for some of our sickest children and their families and create memories that will last long after their child has passed away.

For further information, please visit www.bearcottage.chw.edu.au

The Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) is a national charity which works in a number of ways to make children’s safety and welfare a priority. ACF provides a range of specialist counselling services for children and young people affected by abuse and for their families.

The organisation provides community and professional education, consultancy and debriefing programs, and child abuse prevention programs. These programs aim to improve responses to children and young people who have experienced or are at risk of abuse, family violence and neglect. In partnership with Monash University, ACF has established the National Research Centre for the Prevention of Child Abuse to research the problem of child abuse and identify constructive solutions. For further information, please refer to www.childhood.org.au

Life Changing Experiences Foundation (LCEF) runs the successful SISTER2sister Program which provides mentoring and personal success development to teenage girls who are in need of support, inspiration and opportunity in their lives. Each of the girls in the program is assigned a Big Sister mentor as a positive female role model to provide support, guidanceand advice, where needed, throughout the 12 month program. At the end of the 12 month SISTER2sister program, the girls have the knowledge and skills to break the cycle of trauma and/or abuse and have increased confidence in themselves and their abilities to have greater control over their lives and futures.

For further information, please visit www.lifechangingexperiences.org

Aged care is no place for any young person. However, many young Australians are forced to reside in aged care facilities simply because there are no alternatives. This is why Youngcare has been formed. To provide relevant and dignified lifestyles for young Australians with high care needs.

For further information, please visit www.youngcare.com.au